HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Incidence of Heart Failure from Herceptin does not increase over time

novakoski · 06-03-2008, 12:11 PM

First message from me.

Appreciate the update. Original cancer diagnosed 8-00, before Herceptin approved by FDA for early HER-2+ cancers. Went through the whole gamut of neoadjuvant chemo, partial mastectomy on right, no positive nodes, radiation. Couldn't take aromatase inhibitors, so thought was cancer free for 3 years till recurrence showed up in 4-04 with mets to 2 mediastinal nodes. Underwent bilateral mastectomies (left one my choice--why play Russian Roulette with boobs?). Got bumped
up" from Stage IIA to Stage IV because of the mets. Herceptin started along with Taxotere and Carboplatin for the first 6 months. After that was on Herceptin weekly for 3 years till 6-07 with NED the entire time. Oncologist decided to take off Herceptin after 3 years, wait and watch. After only 4 months off Herceptin, had superficial recurrence along original mastectomy incision line with no local or distant spread, so resumed the Herceptin along with Abraxane ( new form of Taxol) weekly 1-28-08.

Have always found the Herceptin far more tolerable than any of the other drugs I've taken. Hope it continues to hold. Tests will tell.

Thanks for being there.

06-03-2008, 12:11 PM	#3
novakoski Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2	First message from me. Appreciate the update. Original cancer diagnosed 8-00, before Herceptin approved by FDA for early HER-2+ cancers. Went through the whole gamut of neoadjuvant chemo, partial mastectomy on right, no positive nodes, radiation. Couldn't take aromatase inhibitors, so thought was cancer free for 3 years till recurrence showed up in 4-04 with mets to 2 mediastinal nodes. Underwent bilateral mastectomies (left one my choice--why play Russian Roulette with boobs?). Got bumped up" from Stage IIA to Stage IV because of the mets. Herceptin started along with Taxotere and Carboplatin for the first 6 months. After that was on Herceptin weekly for 3 years till 6-07 with NED the entire time. Oncologist decided to take off Herceptin after 3 years, wait and watch. After only 4 months off Herceptin, had superficial recurrence along original mastectomy incision line with no local or distant spread, so resumed the Herceptin along with Abraxane ( new form of Taxol) weekly 1-28-08. Have always found the Herceptin far more tolerable than any of the other drugs I've taken. Hope it continues to hold. Tests will tell. Thanks for being there.